unable to get mysql and php to work. Xampp installer used.

Hi,

I am just starting with Php & Mysql except I have been unable to get it configured correctly to work. Initially I tried installing the binary compiled versions, and trying different paths which did'nt work either. I then deleted the complied version and restarted PC.
I installed the xampp installer with xcp.v.3.02. However, the main problem is with MySQl.
The error message was:

MySQL said:

#2002 - The server is not responding (or the local MySQL server's socket is not correctly configured)
Connection for controluser as defined in your configuration failed.

When I set security passwords in the Xampp local host for MySql, the message is that it is not found, or is blocked by a firewall, but it appears even when the firewall is disabled.

The second issue is that logging in with my passwords is not working, and the blue screen of death appear when trying to log-in. I have contacted xampp.org forum about this but I am not sure if they are going to reply as the MySql issue remains unanswered. I followed previous advice of uncommenting the 127,""" address in the my.ini.php configuration file, but this did not fix it.

Any assistance, or alternatively any links to payed support for this issue would to get Apache, MySql & Php working on my PC would be appreciated.

Os is Windows xp.sp3.

Regs,

Jen11